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UKPP-gender-paper-B.

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6 Escott, K, Price, C, and Buckner, L (2006) Addressing


Key Resources
RTPI (2007) Gender and Spatial Policy: Good Practice
Womens Poverty in Birmingham: Local Labour
Market Initiatives, Centre for Social Inclusion,
Sheffield Hallam University.
A place for everyone?
Note, Royal Town Planning Institute, London, by Reeves
7 Thames Gateway (2006) Women, Work and
Associates. www.rtpi.org.uk
Well-being, London: London Thames Gateway Gender equality and urban planning
GLA (2006) Gender Equality Impact Assessments and Forum at www.ltgf.co.uk
Strategic Planning London: Greater London Authority
(Sue Johnson, Policy and Performance Manager for
8 Hanson J., Bichard,J, and Greed,C. (2007)
The Accessible Toilet Resource: Manual,
A ReGender Briefing Paper
Gender) www.london.gov.uk/gla/publications/women/ London: University College London, Bartlett
gender-equal03.pdf Graduate School of Architecture.

EOC (2007) The Gender Equality Duty (GED), 9 Islington (2006) City Road Basin Masterplan
Manchester: Equal Opportunities Commission, (use of Section 106 for crche provision):
at: www.eoc.org.uk/Default.aspx?page+17686 London Borough of Islington, Why is planning a gender issue?
www.islington.gov.uk/Enviroment/Planning/
Lewisham (2005) Equality Impact Assessment for MajorSchemes/1400.asp Looking at gender issues in planning is central to success in economic
Replacement of Lewisham Unitary Development Plan 10 Camden (2002) Planning Application: The Stables
London: London Borough of Lewisham, (Elizabeth Sclater) Market Chalk Farm Road (S.106 agreement section
regeneration and social inclusion. We take the opportunity of the new
www2.lewisham.gov.uk/YourCouncil/Performance/ 4.6 for crche provision) at: Gender Equality Duty on public authorities to look at the barriers, examine
www.camden.gov.uk.templates/committees/documents/
Plymouth (2001) Gender Audit of the Local Plan Review
14446.doc
planning levels, and recommend changes, giving examples of good practice.
2001 for the City of Plymouth, Plymouth: University of
Plymouth and City of Plymouth Council (Mhairi MacKie 11 WE (Women and Environments) (2006) Climate Land-use planning provides the spatial setting for government policy,
and Paul Barnard). protection: whats gender got to do with it? by G.Alber shaping the way our towns and cities are designed. However, planning
and U.Roehr, pp.17-20, of Special issue on Women
Womens Design Service (2002) Re-Moving the Goalposts and Sustainability of Women and Environments policy tends to ignore the fact that women and men use public space very
www.wds.org.uk Magazine, No.70/71, University of Toronto.
www.weimag.com
differently and have different concerns about how it meets their needs. For
Oxfam (2005) Into the lions den: a practical guide
to including women in regeneration 12 Department for Communities and Local Government more detailed guidance, we recommend the Royal Town Planning Institute
http://www.oxfamgb.org/ukpp/resources/intothelionsden.htm (2006) Delivering Sustainable Development (Planning Good Practice Note on Gender and Spatial Planning (RTPI, 2007)
Policy Statement 1)
13 RTPI (2003) Gender Equality and Plan Making: The
Gender Mainstreaming Toolkit, London: Royal Town
References Planning Institute, and accompanying Report on Gendered patterns A virtuous circle?
Gender Auditing and Mainstreaming: Incorporating
1 Peoples perceptions of personal security and their concerns Case Studies and Pilots, at www.rtpi.org.uk in use of space When planning takes into
about crime on public transport, literature review, prepared Planning policy
14 ODPM (2005) Diversity and Equality in Planning: > Poorly considered land-use zoning policy account the different
for Department of Transport by Crime Concern, 2002 A Good Practice Guide, London: ODPM; 134 needs of women and tends to ignore the
separates residential areas from employment
2 Womens Design Service Making Safer Places London: 15 RICS (2003) Raising the Ratio Investigation of fact that women
locations, with a greater impact on womens men, this means:
Womens Design Service 1998-2006 composition of the surveying profession (Led by Louise
mobility. and men use
3 Policy URB 9, Lewisham, 2005 Ellman and Sarah Sayce) (Kingston, London: University > public transport
of Kingston on Thames) and see www.rics.org.uk public space very
4 Policy EMP3 of the Replacement Lewisham Unitary > Women make more complex journeys routes that support
Development Plan, Lewisham, 2005 16 RIBA (2003) Why do women leave architecture?: womens travel patterns differently
than men, often travelling to childcare,
5 CRESR (2003) Planning and Diversity: Research into Policies and Report, Response and RIBA Action London: Royal
Procedures, Centre for Regional, Economic and Social Research, Institute of British Architects. school, work, and shops. More than twice > measures to make public
Sheffield Hallam University, by Booth, C and Bennett, C, 2003 as many women as men are responsible space feel safer at night
for escorting children to school.
> more support facilities, such as local shops,
> Seventy-five per cent of bus journeys childcare, and public toilets
Author Oxfam are undertaken by women
> employment opportunities locally, meaning
Clara Greed is Professor of Inclusive This briefing was commissioned by Oxfam as part > Only thirty per cent of women have access more mixed use development
Urban Planning and Architecture at the of the ReGender project which trains regeneration to the use of a car during the daytime.
Faculty of the Built Environment at practitioners, and influences decision-makers to > more women would be able to take
University of the West of England. include womens voices, and use a systematic > Poor public transport and lack of caring employment, training, and leisure opportunities
gender analysis in regeneration programmes. facilities and shopping outlets near
> economic development opportunities would
employment locations restrict womens
Email: ukpoverty@oxfam.org.uk for more information. be increased
access to the labour market.
www.oxfam.org.uk/uk > social inclusion programmes would be
> Women feel less safe than men being out
more effective.
alone after dark, especially in the inner city,
continued overleaf
or social housing estates.1

Oxfam GB is a registered charity, no 202918


UKPP-gender-paper-B.xp 17/10/07 11:00 Page 3

A place for everyone? Gender equality and urban planning

The Womens Design Service2 has carried out their journey patterns between home and work, Recommendations > Planning policy should take into account
Safety Audits in Walthamstow, Southwark and and were represented on decision-making Gender should the requirements of women as well as
Peckham. As a result, pavement obstacles regeneration committees. Getting policy and
be a key men in the location of different land
such as such as litter-bins and traffic signs practice right
consideration in all uses and the transport links between
have been removed, and lighting improved 3. To find out what really concerns both women > Gender should be a overarching policy them at strategic and city-wide level.13
to increase personal safety. and men, public participation needs to key consideration in all areas including > More public transport routes are
actively include them. overarching policy areas needed within and between local
In Lewisham, new policy proscribes solid sustainability policy
shutters over shop windows, because they Thames Gateway Forum, as a result of a new including sustainability policy areas, especially in the suburbs and
and economic
worsened the quality of lighting on the approach to participation, pioneered innovative and economic development.11 for more off-peak provision for those
development
streets at night, and made women returning ways of involving women in decision-making, This would also contribute undertaking part-time work locally.
from work in the evenings feel threatened.3 in traditionally male technical transport towards high-level policy objectives in
planning. Rather than restricting consultation social inclusion, housing policy, healthy cities, Hearing from women and men
on already agreed policy issues, women crime reduction, liveability, transport planning
Planning space in cities: and urban regeneration (Department of
> The specific needs of women and men need
and men in the community were encouraged
levels of concern Communities and Local Government, 200612).
to be actively brought into Statements of
to raise their concerns. Women drew Community Involvement, now a statutory
1. City-wide planning is the most important attention to station toilet provision, > Revisions to national planning guidance, requirement in the new planning system.
planning level for setting the context safety at unstaffed stations, and including Planning Policy Statements, should Practical issues such as when, where and
and direction of gender-inclusive off-peak journey provision for
City-wide incorporate advice on the gender implications how meetings are held, and a more open,
planning. The key to success is part-time workers.7
planning is the of specific planning policy topics. Gender proactive approach is needed, rather than
integrating gender considerations
guidance at national level should be cascaded a fixed agenda to comment on.
into mainstream spatial planning most important
4. Local authority planners, using down through the Government Offices, and
policy topics, such as housing, planning level for > Men are the majority of planners and urban
a proactive approach, have a major taken into account by Regional Development
employment, and leisure, and setting the context decision makers, and they need to be aware
role in ensuring gender is taken Agencies, strengthening government support
linking gender into other high-level and direction of of the different needs of women and men.
into account locally. For example, for gender-sensitive planning at local planning
overarching policy issues, such gender-inclusive Examples of good practice include gender-
Leicester has established a model authority level.
as sustainability, economic growth sensitive training schemes for planning
planning gender monitoring system in its
and social inclusion. A matrix > Local planning authorities should develop inspectors.14 Gender awareness training
development control department.15 Local
approach can be useful. gender-disaggregated statistical data on the should be integral to educational programmes,
authority technical departments can have
The London Borough of Lewisham uses an a profound effect on womens access to, needs of men and women, when monitoring degree courses, and Continuing Professional
Equalities Impact Assessment spreadsheet. and movement within the built environment. transport planning policies, use of facilities Development alongside other overarching
Gender implications and other equality issues, Research has found that if public toilets are and types of development, complaints, issues such as sustainability and
are assessed for each policy area in the Unitary not available at transport termini and in city feedback and public participation exercises. transportation policy.
Development Plan. As a result, Lewisham centres, within walking distance, some women
> Gender considerations need to be taken > Women should be encouraged into the built
shifted its policy on employment site provision will not travel at all.8
into account at the local planning level, on environment professions, such as surveying,
to provide more local jobs to benefit women
development control practice and management, architecture and engineering. There are fewer
and reduce long-distance commuting.4 There is 5. Planning law is influential. Reasonable and in all aspects of local area decision-making. women in the commercial sector of property
also benefit for sustainable development policies social requirements should be included in To make this requirement effective the scope development and therefore there is unlikely
the development plan (with detail provided, and remit of planning law needs clarification to be an consideration of gender issues in
2. New regional and local tiers in the planning
if necessary, in a SPD). The move from land and revision to accommodate the requirements the deliberations on regeneration schemes.15
system mean local authorities can meet gender
use to spatial planning, which takes into account of the new equality agenda, and the Gender For example, currently, the Royal Institute
needs in the development of Regional Spatial
broader social, environmental and economic Equality Duty in particular. of British Architects is acting upon research
Strategies and Local Development Frameworks.
concerns, should reduce the risk of reasonable recommendations to recruit and retain more
Gender has been integrated into regional policy, social requirements being ultra vires (beyond > Local authority technical departments, and women architects.16
anti-poverty initiatives and urban regeneration power). An inclusive and creative aproach to transport operations need to develop awareness
programmes, in the Midlands and Yorkshire, planning gain, through Section 106 agreements as to the different impact of their work on > Guidance and support is already out there:
connecting employment policy to childcare can result in gender-related provision, such as women and men. Areas of responsibility the RTPI Toolkit (RTPI, 2003) and the Equality
provision.5, 6 Local women were involved from the requirement for childcare provision as part include design and maintenance of street Score Card (RTPI, 007) enable local planning
the outset. They gave their preferences on the of new commercial development.9, 10 lighting, highways, railway stations, public authorities to integrate gender considerations
location of childcare provision in relation to toilets, refuse disposal, and street management. into planning.

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